Mecca
Millions of people make the pilgrimage to Mecca each year. An integral part of Islam, the Hajj is considered a sacred duty that every Muslim should perform at least once during his or her lifetime. Both men and women can make the pilgrimage to Mecca but some aspects of the Hajj are gender segregated. Because so many individuals attend, the throngs of Muslim pilgrims to Mecca have made the Hajj a potentially dangerous religious ritual. According to the BBC, well over two hundred people have been trampled to death during the Hajj because of the swarming influx of devotees ("Mecca Pilgrimage"). Changing the procedures that are used to welcome pilgrims would ensure fewer injuries and fatalities. Unfortunately, though, the Hajj takes place at a specific time of year in accordance with the Muslim lunar calendar and it would be nearly impossible to stagger entry throughout the year. Only the most liberal Muslims would accept a wholesale change to the religious tradition.
Pilgrims who perish at Mecca are commonly viewed as being martyrs for their faith. This pious view should be balanced by genuine humanitarian concerns: for the families of Hajj victims would most likely prefer their relatives to arrive home safely from the pilgrimage. Therefore, discouraging the blind acceptance of Hajj deaths would bolster support for increased security and safety at Mecca.
Besides accepting the deaths as a tragic part of the Hajj, officials can ensure a safe pilgrimage by offering increased security, health, and safety officers at Mecca. Although Saudi Arabian authorities do provide some security for pilgrims, the pilgrimage could be better managed. For example, the pilgrims could be divided into groups with schedules entry times. Alerting pilgrims before they attend to the potential hazards of the pilgrimage is another way to prepare people for the hoards. Being aware of fellow pilgrims might help minimize needless injuries or fatalities. If pilgrims are keenly aware of their neighbors they are less likely to trample them underfoot. Furthermore, offering first-time pilgrims priority over repeat pilgrims would reduce the number of attendees in a fair way.
Works Cited
Mecca Pilgrimage: Can it be made safe?" BBC. 9 Feb 2004. Retrieved Nov 29, 2007 at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/3449239.stm
